Differential



' v11311.27, 1940. .NLA CASSE A 2,191,763

DIFFERENT IAL 1111311 Dec. 27, 19:58

Il l IIII Il l 'IYIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA yakw@ v-v 55 y ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE A' A ,l C 2,191,763' i y n 'DIFFERENTIAL l Hector J. Casse, Missoula, Mont. n Application December 27, 1938, serial 247,884 v .2 claims.. (c1. yifi-389.5)

The invention relates to a differential and more l especially to an overrun clutch type differential.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a differential of this character, wherein "5 the'same isjdevoid of a countershaft, meshing gears` or sliding parts, and has a continuous operation, the clutching action being eective .at

all. times so that upon turning to the right or left,

as the case maybe, in the travel of a motor venecessarily turn the fastest due to the'larger arc of rotation traversed by the wheels of the vehicle, this being taken care of by clutching action ofthe dierential and on the vehicles taking a straight course, both axles simultaneously assume driving functions. j

Another object of the invention is the provision of a differential of this character, wherein Ya` two-part axle has the meeting ends thereof 20,loosely interfitted with each other and about these ends is a single clutch of the overrun type for cooperation simultaneously with both ends or f individually with one end of. either section of the axle while this clutch is operative witha drivingelemem; and is within the hub thereof so that power can be transmitted to either of the axle sections or to either of the same independently 'of one'another, the differential being of novel 4construction and compact in assembly thereof.

y f3() A further object of the invention is the 4provision oi a'diiferential of 'this character, wherein the' functioning thereof has the same effect for driving purposes of a differential structure in that both axle parts of a sectional axle can be 135 driven together or leither vone individually driven. A still further object of the invention is the provision of a differential of this character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture and install. With these and other Aobjects in view, the invention consists in the features of-constru'ction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing: 5o Figure ,1 isan axial section of a differential constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is'an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction `of the arrows. 55 Figure 3 is a. fragmentary sectional View taken fonthe line 3--3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction vof the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate correspondingparts throughout the several views in the drawing. v

` Referring to the drawing in detail,l A and B, respectively, denote portions of a two-part driving vaxle forv the driving of the wheels of a motor u vehicle,y as is conventional, and the part A in l0 hicle, that axle lon the outside of they turn must f yalignment with the longitudinal axis of the axle has formed therein a recess, socket or the like I Il lfor accommodating an aligned projection II on the part B while intertted between the wall of the socket or recess I8 and the said projection `II are 'the lanti-friction caged bearing rollers 4I2 and 15 a bearing ball I3, respectively, for relative rotation of the sections A and B of the axle with the yends next to each other intertted with each other.

Surrounding the interfltted ends of the sections 20 Av and B of the axle is the hub I4` of al driving' .gear I5 for transmitting power to the said axle in the operation` of amotor vehicle for the driv-y ing thereof.

Within the hub I4 between it and the intercon- 25 nected ends 'of the sections A and B of the axle is an overrun roller clutch involving a sleevelike cage IIS which snugly but loosely vembraces f the interfltted ends of the said sections A and B and has provided therein spaced circumferential- 30 ly arranged slots or openings Il vforming clearances for clutching rollers I8, beinga pair in each Aslot I'I andthe rollers of each pair are separatedv from each other by spacer blocks or shoes I9, these maintaining rollers of each pair spread 3,5

"apart and againstfopposite ends of the slot containing the same. Between the blocks I9 in each slot I'I is a coiled spring 20 functioning for holding the block in a position to normally maintain lthe rollers I8 vspread apart in the manner as is 40 clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. These rollers I8 have contact with the intertted ends companion thereto of the sections A and B of the axle. In other words, one series of rollers I8 contacts with one end of a section of the axle and simultaneously the other group of lrollers contacts with the other end of a section of said axle when these ends of the axle sections A and B are intertted with each other within the sleeve-like cage I6. Formed interiorly of the hub I4 and common to both groups of rollers I8 are the successively arranged circumferentially disposed radially 2"@ .fx/ ro the several groups of rollers. These pockets or grooves ZI enable overrun clutching action of the rollers I8, either in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction of rotation of the hub I4 so that the ends interitted with each other of the sections A and B of the axle can be simultaneously clutched or declutched by the rollers I8 acting within the pockets or grooves 2| or the said ends individually clutched thereby. Therefore, upon the turning of a motor vehicle to the right or left that half or section of the axle on the outside of the turn mustA necessarily turn the fastest due to the larger arc of rotation. This action automatically unlocks only those rollers vI8 on that half of the axle section which is turnf" ing the fastest, allowing that section to revolve faster than the other, the latter inthis instance being still connected by therollers IB vto thel d riv- On completion of the turn of the ing gear i5. motor vehicle, when both axle sections A and B are `again revolving at equal speed, the spacer blocks I9 become active for relooking the rollers to the drivegear I5 and both axle ends, .thus power being again restored to both axle sections with the result that their driving functions are resumed. The clutching action becomes'positive when the driving gear I5 on revolving decreases the space within the pockets or grooves 2| in the hub Ill of'said gear and the axle sections A and B are lacking in their momentum with the rev sult that a squeezing and locking action ishad by the rollers I8 upon the shaft ends of the sections A and B of the axle so that driving function of the latter is obtained, the pockets or grooves being radially arched effects wedging in spaces between the axle section ends A and B and the said hub I4 so that the rollers I8 automatically will clutch anddeclutch the axle ends and the hub I4 automatically for the making and breaking of the driving connections between the gear I5 and the said axle.

There is but a single clutch assembly between the gear I5 and the ends of the sections A and B of the axle and this assembly has groups of rollers I8, one being common to one axle end andthe other common to the other axle end nextto the interiitting of the said ends of the sections A and B so that these sections A vand B can be individually or simultaneously clutched while these groups of rollers i8 cooperate with the hub UI of the gear I5 and pairs of said rollers of both 'groups are coniined within the pockets or grooves 2l interiorly of. said hub and in this manner the locking and unlocking of one axle end or the locking and unlocking of both axle ends vwith the gear I5 will be had. The foregoing in the travel of a motor vehicle eliminates 'in the said member.

any back lash between the gear I5 and the sections A and B of the axle.

Arranged adjacent to opposite ends of the sleeve-like cage I6 and removably ttedwithin the hub I4 ofthe gear I5 are the inner and outer bearing cone parts 22 and 23, respectively, between which are arranged end thrust bearing rollers 24 while between the inner cones 22 and the ends next thereto of the sleeve-like cage I6 are ring washers 25, the sleeve-like cage I6 being tted with spring-pressed 'plungers 26 for pressing against said washers 25, the presser springs for the said plungers 26 being indicated at 21, and in this manner a fixed relationship VIi.l

lol

in the clutch assembly is assured countering hand thrust.

What is claimed is:

l. A differential of the kind described comprising a sleeve-like member forminga driving element, a two-part .axle extending through the said member and having the ends of its parts next to each other rotatably interiitted one within the said intertted Iends of the axle, and means within the cage and'activeyuponthe'clutchingv rollers for holding the same yieldably tensioned spaced from each other. i

2. Adifferentiai of the kind described compris`- ing a 'sleeve-like memberforrning a' driving element, a two-part axle extending throughthesaid member and'having the ends of its parts'next to each other rotatably interitted one' within 'the other, anti-friction means located between f the interiitted portions of theparts of saidv axle, an internal clutch face formed in said member, a sleeveelike cage'loosely embracingtheinter'- v fitted ends oi"n said axlepclutching rollers con-- lined bysaid cage for coacting with theclutch face and simultaneously and individually With the said interntted ends 'of the ax1e,m'eans with;

in the cage and active upon the clutching'roll Y.

ers for' homing the same yie1dab1y tensioned lspaced from each other'fand tensioned plungers fitting said cage for indirectly engagingtheI parts of said axle for maintaining a fixed relationship HECTOR/LLAQASSE- Y,

of the clutching rollers and the clutch face' t vith` 

